2007 Abu Dhabi Series

Infobox_Cricket_series_begin
series_name = Abu Dhabi Series 2007
team1_

team1_name = Pakistan
team2_
| team2_name = Sri Lanka
from_date = 18 May
to_date = 22 May 2007
team1_captain = Shoaib Malik
team2_captain = Mahela Jayawardene
Infobox_Cricket_series_ODI
no_of_ODIs = 3
team1_ODIs_won = 2
team2_ODIs_won = 1
team1_ODIs_most_runs = Shoaib Malik (117)
Salman Butt (110)
Kamran Akmal (91)
team2_ODIs_most_runs = Mahela Jayawardene (162)
Chamara Silva (132)
Upul Tharanga (105)
team1_ODIs_most_wickets = Umar Gul (5)
Mohammad Asif (4)
Iftikhar Anjum
Mohammad Sami
Shahid Afridi
(3)
team2_ODIs_most_wickets = Farveez Maharoof (6)
Dilhara Fernando (5)
Malinga Bandara
(4)
player_of_ODI_series = Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) and Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

The Abu Dhabi Series, also known as the Warid Cricket Series, was a cricket tournament, contested between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, from 18 May to 22 May, 2007. It was hosted on neutral soil, all 3 ODIs being played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be the first matches played by either side since the conclusion of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan went on to win the series 2-1, only losing the final match of the series. All 3 matches were Day/Night matches.

quad lists

quad changes

Pakistan

Following the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq after Pakistan's shock World Cup Group Stage exit, Pakistan named Shoaib Malik as ul-Haq's successor as captain. Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were both dropped - Akhtar for his fitness, whilst Khan is playing English county cricket with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Salman Butt was recalled to the team after 9 months out of the side. [cite web | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/2-nat-uae/content/story/293406.html | title=Mohammad Asif returns as vice-captain to Pakistan squad | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-05-07 | accessdate=2007-05-16]

ri Lanka

Only nine of the fifteen players in the Sri Lankan squad who were present for their 2007 World Cup campaign are in the squad for the Abu Dhabi Series - Russel Arnold retired following the World Cup, whilst Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas were all rested in order to be given the opportunity to play for their respective English county cricket teams. Young bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was dropped from the side, as well as former captain Marvan Atapattu, with Sri Lanka Cricket explaining they wanted to give experience to younger players, such as Malinda Warnapura who had earlier impressed for Sri Lanka A. [cite web | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/2-nat-uae/content/story/293748.html | title=Atapattu dropped for Abu Dhabi series | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-05-10 | accessdate=2007-05-16]

Coaches

Both teams had experienced recent changes in coaches: Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer died in the West Indies following the team's exit from the World Cup - the investigation into his death, amidst claims of murder, is still ongoing. No full time coach had been named before the series, although there has been speculation as to current Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore taking over once he steps down at the end of India's tour of Bangladesh. [cite web | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/293699.html | title=Pakistan express interest in Whatmore | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-05-10 | accessdate=2007-05-16] Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody announced his intention to leave Sri Lanka and return to Australia to coach the Western Warriors following the series. [cite web | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/294056.html | title=Moody quits as Sri Lanka coach | date=2007-05-14 | accessdate=2007-05-16]

ODI series

1st ODI

Limited overs international
date = May 18, 2007
team1 = cr-rt|SRI
score1 = 235/9 (50 overs)
score2 = 239/5 (42 overs)
team2 = cr|PAK
runs1 = Farveez Maharoof 69* (54)
wickets1 = Umar Gul 3/61 (10 overs)
runs2 = Shahid Afridi 73* (34)
Kamran Akmal 51* (51)
wickets2 =
result = cr|PAK win by 5 wickets
report = [http://content.cricinfo.com/waridcricketseries/engine/current/match/293504.html (scorecard)]
venue = Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
umpires = Suresh Shastri (IND) and Mark Benson (ENG)
motm = Shahid Afridi (PAK)
rain =

2nd ODI

Limited overs international
date = May 20, 2007
team1 = cr-rt|PAK
score1 = 313/9 (50 overs)
score2 = 215 (39.5 overs)
team2 = cr|SRI
runs1 = Salman Butt 74 (81)
Yasir Hameed 50 (53)
wickets1 = Malinga Bandara 3/56 (10 overs)
runs2 = Mahela Jayawardene 61 (69)
wickets2 = Shahid Afridi 3/37 (10 overs)
result = cr|PAK win by 98 runs
report = [http://content.cricinfo.com/waridcricketseries/engine/current/match/293505.html (scorecard)]
venue = Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
umpires = Suresh Shastri (IND) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM)
motm = Salman Butt (PAK)
rain =

3rd ODI

Limited overs international
date = May 22, 2007
team1 = cr-rt|SRI
score1 = 296/9 (50 overs)
score2 = 181 (42.5 overs)
team2 = cr|PAK
runs1 = Mahela Jayawardene 83 (81)
Chamara Silva 64 (87)
wickets1 =
runs2 = Shoaib Malik 79* (85)
wickets2 = Dilhara Fernando 3/20 (7 overs)
result = cr|SRI win by 115 runs
report = [http://content.cricinfo.com/waridcricketseries/engine/current/match/293506.html (scorecard)]
venue = Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
umpires = Mark Benson (ENG) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM)
motm = Dilhara Fernando (SRI)
rain = Pakistan won the series 2-1

References

External links

:1. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/UAE/2007_UAE_Abu_Dhabi_Tournament_2007.html CricketArchive Tour Homepage]
:2. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2007/OD_TOURNEYS/WARIDCS/ Cricinfo Tour Homepage]